The Crossword Zoo: 10 Animals You Should Know

Brush up on your knowledge of creatures that can be frequently spotted in The New York Times Crossword.

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Lilly Rose Schmid and her mother, Catherine Schmid, at the Bronx Zoo.CreditChang W. Lee/The New York Times

By Sam Ezersky

April 12, 2018

Crossword puzzles require solvers to have a good grasp of general knowledge, but sometimes certain facts just aren’t in our personal wheelhouses.

That’s O.K. We’re here to help you solve … and to help you expand those wheelhouses.

For our latest list of terms you should know to become a better solver, we’ll be visiting a “crossword zoo,” taking a closer look at animals that frequently show up in puzzles.

We’ll also show you how these terms might be clued so you’ll be able to recognize them in the future. The clues that involve wordplay meant to trick you are in bold.

This list is not the ultimate “teacher of creatures” featured in The New York Times Crossword, but familiarity with these animals will certainly help you out for future solving.

1. ASP

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CreditLtshears, via commons.wikimedia.org

ASP is a term generally used to refer to any snake of the species Naja haje. Also known as the Egyptian cobra, the asp can primarily be found around the banks of the Nile River. Its venom is highly toxic.

In ancient Egypt, the asp was a symbol of royalty, and was frequently depicted in royal attire as well as hieroglyphics. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra is said to have killed herself with an asp’s bite.

2. EFT

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CreditBruce Lucas, via commons.wikimedia.org

EFT is a classic example of “crosswordese,” what puzzle makers call answers that appear in puzzles far more than in real life. This word has appeared in The New York Times Crossword more than 400 times, and yet many are unfamiliar with the term, which is another name for the newt.

Specifically, an eft is a newt in its juvenile phase. Newts are amphibious by nature, but a newt in its eft stage spends time exclusively on land. It will return to water after two to four years of growth.

3. ELAND

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CreditShijan Kaakkara, via commons.wikimedia.org

There are two types of ELAND, and they are both African antelopes of the genus Taurotragus. While the giant eland can be found throughout northern Africa, the common eland is primarily located in southern and eastern regions, specifically the Serengeti.

Characterized by its oxlike build and heavy, spiral-shaped horns, the eland is the largest antelope — bulls can weigh almost one ton. While their heft may prevent them from galloping for long periods of time, elands have excellent jumping abilities and are strong enough to fend off predators in herds.

4. ELK

The ELK is a member of the deer family found in North America and parts of Central Asia. Male elk have large antlers and resemble moose, caribou and other deer.

All elk are grazers, and subspecies can thrive in different climates. North American elk are primarily found in deciduous forests, prairies and mountainous terrain, while Asian elk prefer colder, flatter areas.

A noteworthy feature of all elk is their unique bugling call for mating. Males raise their heads and produce shrill sounds that can be heard from long distances. Females can bugle as well, though this is far less common.

5. EWOK

Who says that every animal in the crossword zoo must exist in real life? EWOK has appeared in The New York Times Crossword nearly 50 times in its singular form alone.

In the “Star Wars” universe, Ewoks are bearlike creatures native to the planet Endor. After capturing Luke Skywalker and friends in “Return of the Jedi,” they join forces with them to combat the Imperial Army in the Battle of Endor.

Fun fact: The term “Ewok” is never spoken throughout the film, yet can be found in the ending credits.

6. GNU

The GNU — pronounced “new” — is an African antelope also known as the wildebeest. Gnus are herbivores native to the plains regions in eastern and southern Africa.

Gnus have well-entrenched migratory patterns during dry seasons, during which they travel in large herds to find water and greener grasses. These migrations bring about breeding frenzies among hundreds of thousands of gnus, which create competition for males seeking to establish territorial dominance. Fortunately, they are much tamer in the crossword puzzle, where they have appeared less than 300 times.

7. IBEX

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CreditQuinet, via commons.wikimedia.org

The IBEX is a wild goat that lives in mountainous regions of Northern Africa, Asia and Europe, most notably in the Alps. Its distinguishing features include large, backward-curving horns and a strong physique.

Ibexes adapted to the mountains, and it is no surprise they are excellent climbers. They can easily traverse jagged inclines as long as snowfall is light, and they are even capable of climbing sturdy trees to forage for foliage.

8. OKAPI

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CreditEric Kilby, via commons.wikimedia.org

A member of the family Giraffidae, the OKAPI is related to the giraffe. However, the animals are quite different in appearance: okapis’ necks are much more proportional to their bodies, and their legs feature horizontal black-and-white stripes that contrast their dark brown coats.

Okapis are primarily found in Congolese rain forests, and they have become a major focus of animal conservation throughout that region.

9. ORCA

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CreditRobert Pittman, via commons.wikimedia.org

An ORCA may not be the most obscure animal to appear in The New York Times Crossword, but it is certainly worth mentioning here, with more than 150 appearances during Will Shortz’s tenure as crossword puzzle editor.

The orca, also known as the killer whale, is an aquatic animal of the dolphin family Delphinidae. It is not only a carnivorous member of the food chain, but is also an apex predator, meaning that no other animal preys on it.

Orcas can be playful and highly intelligent, which has led to their use as trained performers in venues such as SeaWorld and the film “Free Willy.” The practice has sparked ethical controversy, as highlighted in the 2013 documentary “Blackfish.”

Note: Orca was the name of the boat in the film “Jaws,” and may sometimes be clued as such.

10. TSETSE

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CreditInternational Atomic Energy Agency, via commons.wikimedia.org

The TSETSE fly is an insect found in Africa known for transmitting a sleeping sickness, trypanosomiasis. It has a long proboscis that can puncture the skin of humans and animals, and it feeds off blood parasitically.

Tsetses were once a deterrent for settlement in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, but the possibility of disease has been reduced. Special insecticides and brush fires have proven effective, as well as the clearing of nearby wooded areas where tsetses like to gather.